SC Villa secured a well-deserved 2-0 victory over rivals Express FC at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku, on Wednesday afternoon.
Goals from Patrick Kakande and Andrew Otim ensured the Jogoos claimed maximum points away from home.
The visitors signaled their intent early when Arnold Odong nearly broke the deadlock in the second minute, heading just wide from a fine Reagan Mpande cross.
Two minutes later, SC Villa took the lead. Kakande made no mistake from close range, smartly tapping in after connecting with a precise right-wing delivery from Ibrahim Kasinde.
Mpande came close to doubling the lead in the 21st minute, but his powerful long-range strike whistled inches wide of the target.
Express struggled to settle, and a careless giveaway by defender Raymond Barasa Mangoli nearly proved costly. Nicholas Jjonga intercepted the loose ball and set up Isaac Wagoina, but the forward reacted too slowly to capitalize on the opportunity.
SC Villa made a triple substitution seven minutes into the second half, introducing Aslam Ssemakula, Frank Ssebufu, and Mpande for Kato Ssemayange, Isaac Gumperon, and John Asiimwe.
However, the alterations temporarily disrupted SC Villa’s rhythm, allowing Express to take control of the contest.
Express pressed for an equaliser, and in the 66th minute, Shafic Batambuze whipped a dangerous ball into the box. Wagoina, with the target at his mercy, could only direct his header harmlessly wide.
Moments later, Abasi Muluya combined well with Peter Onzima, whose teasing cross rolled across the face of the goal, but no player in a red shirt was on hand to apply the final touch.
SC Villa put the game beyond reach deep in stoppage time through a moment of brilliance from Otim.
Otim capitalised on a major error by Express goalkeeper Mathias Kigonya who misjudged the bounce after racing off his line and comfortably finished into an unguarded net to seal the win.
The result elevates SC Villa to third place on the StarTimes Uganda Premier League table with seven points, while Express drop to ninth with three points from three matches.
